Shoe with changeable elements



Feb. 17, 1959 V. R. MURPHY SHOE WITH CHANGEABLE ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 2, 1955 Venus Ramey Murphy INVENTOR.

United States Patent O SHOE WITH CHANGEABLE ELEMENTS Venus Ramey Murphy, Stanford, Ky.

Application August 2, 1955, Serial No. 526,021

1 Claim. (Cl. 36--2.5)

This invention generally relates to improved and novel construction in shoes, and more specifically provides a shoe construction having interchangeable elements thereon so that such elements may be changed as desired for adapting the shoes for various occasions having various decorative qualities.

In shoe construction, and especially that utilized by women, it is necessary that a relatively large number of pairs of shoes be retained so that the shoes will be compatible to the other clothes being worn. Normally, a relatively large number of pairs of shoes presents a storage problem, and certain attempts have been made to provide storage racks in the form of stands and bags for holding such shoes. However, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved shoe construction wherein the uppers of the shoe as well as the heels may be removable for interchangeability with other heels and other uppers, thereby permitting a single basic frame or sole to be utilized with a plurality of various colored uppers and heels or uppers and heels constructed of difierent materials, thereby providing a highly novel shoe construction permitting the use of a single basic sole in constructing a plurality of different shoes by interchanging certain elements thereof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shoe construction in accordance with the preceding objects having novel means for detachably securing the heelin position together with novel means for securing half outer sole to the elongated main sole together with means for securing uppers between the outer sole and the main sole and providing such uppers with an insert of elastic material, thereby permitting the uppers to receive a foot within varying size limits.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of assembly, adaptation for its particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing costs.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded group perspective view of the improved and novel shoe construction of the present invention illustrating the structural elements thereof; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along the longitudinal center line of the construction of Figure 1 in assembled relation.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the shoe construction of the present invention including an elongated main sole generally designated by the numeral 12 and including a heel portion 14, a shank portion 16, and a ball portion 18 which is attached to the forward end of the shank portion 16 by a plurality of fasteners 20. The heel portion 14 and Patented Fella. 17, 1959 2 a the shank portion 16 are rigid in construction, while the ball portion 18 isflexible, and the entire sole 12 is covered over by a liner or an insole 22, thereby providing a smooth surface for contact with the wearers foot.

The heel portion 14 is provided with an aperture 24 having a screw threaded fastener 26 extending there through for screw threaded engagement in a bore 28 in the upper end of a heel 30 which depends therefrom for supportingthe heel portion 14 in vertical position. The bore 28 and fastener 26 form means detachably connecting the heel 30 to the heel portion 14 of the main sole 12. The heel 30 may be of any suitable length, as desired, and may be constructed with any suitable coloringor material compatible with the remainder of the shoe construction 10. g

The undersurface of the ball portion 18 as well as the adjacent end of the shank portion 16 is provided with a pair of oppositely projecting plates 32 attached by a mounting bracket 34 wherein the plates 32 are in spaced parallel relation to the undersurface of the ball portion 18 andthe adjacent area of the shank portion 16. The mounting bracket 34 is secured to the elongated main sole 12 by fastening members 36.

A half outer sole 38 is provided with a pair of loopshaped brackets 40 having mounting lugs 42 and a central portion disposed in spaced parallel relation to the inner surface of the half outer sole 38 for sliding interlocking engagement with the plates 32. The flexibility of the ball portion 18 of the main sole 112 permits the rear plate 32 to be engaged with the rear loop-shaped bracket 40 after which the ball portion 18 is pushed inwardly and the central portion upwardly bowed, substantially as illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the forward projecting plate 32 may be engaged with the forward loop-shaped bracket, thereby securely and detachably mounting the half outer sole 38 to the ball portion 18 of the elongated main sole 12.

A generally tubular-shaped upper member 44 is provided with a longitudinal elastic portion 46 therein whereby the longitudinal elastic portion 46 is frictionally held in position between the half outer sole 38 and the ball portion 18 of the main sole 12. The elastic portion 46 permits a single upper 44 to be utilized for receiving feet of difierent sizes within certain limits. With the removable upper 44, the entire appearance of the shoe 10 may be altered by replacing the heel 30 and replacing the uppers 44 with other heels and uppers, thereby changing the appearance of the-shoe. If desired, suitable removable tie straps may be attached to the heel portion 14 of the shoe construction 10 for assisting in retaining the shoe 10 on the foot.

This construction provides means for detachably engaging the uppers to the main sole and also detachably securing a heel thereto for permitting interchanging of the uppers and heels so that a single main sole and outer half sole may be employed with various uppers and heels for completely changing the appearance and construction of the shoe, thereby permitting a single shoe with a plurality of uppers and heels to be utilized in conjunction with a plurality of dresses or outfits of wear ing apparel, thereby eliminating the necessity of having a relatively large number of pairs of shoes available for use. All well known manufacturing procedures utilized in construction of shoes will be employed in constructing the shoes of the present invention, thereby providing a shoe construction of relatively inexpensive manufacture.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the inventior scribed, and accordingly,.all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as 'newis as .follows'z" A shoe construction comprising an elongated main sole including a heel .portion, a shank-portion, and .a generally horizontal ball portion, "a gde'p'ending supporting heel on said heel portion, means detachably connectingsaid heel to .said heel portion of the main sole ,for permitting replacement thereof, an outer sole underlying the ball portion of the main sole and generally eoextensive therewith, said outer sole having an inner edge generally in, registry with the juncture between .the ball portion and the shank, portion, means for detachably securing said outer sole to the ball portionof said main sole,fland a detachable upper for receiving the forward portion of a foot, said means for securing the outer sole to the main sole including apair of longitudinally spaced and aligned brackets on the :undersurface of the main sole, each of said brackets having a projecting plate extending longitudinally of the main sole in spaced parallel relation thereto, said plates extending from said .brackets in opposite directions, a pair of longitudinally spaced and aligned loop-shaped brackets on "the upper surface of said outer sole for sliding interlocking engagement with 'the plates 'on' the inain solejthe ball portion of the main sole being resiliently flexible for permitting the distance between the plates to be .shortened for engaging the plates with the loop-shaped brackets, said upper being generally cylindrical and provided with a longitudinal resilient insert with a portion of the upper having the insert being frictionally retained between the main sole and outer sole for permitting replacement of the upper and variation in efiective size thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rc.18,054 Rubin Apr. 21, 1931 680,868 Leadbeater Aug. 20, 1901 1,274,111 Von Culin et al. July 30, 1918 2,153,968 Loufahn Apr. 11, 1939 2,178,025 Richter Oct. 31, 1939 2,200,080 Fein May 7, 1940 "2,207,306 Taaler July 9, 1940 2,368,314 "Marx Jan. '30, 1945 2,528,951 Epsztejn Nov. 7, 1950 2,651,117 .I-Iarris Sept. 8, .1953 2,750,685 Wierman June 19, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 822,948 Germany Nov. 29, 1951 

